WASHINGTON – Class is set to start in Stafford County Sept. 8, but one high school may not be ready in time. The school district moved the first day of school back for students attending Stafford High School to the following week, due to delays caused by construction.

Stafford County Schools says the general contractor, Gaithersburg-based Hess Construction  has failed to meet requirements for temporary occupancy in building the new school.

Now, instead of starting class the Tuesday after Labor Day, students attending the new high school will start Sept. 14, according to a press release from school district spokeswoman Valerie Cottongim.

Teachers and staff will work from home during the teacher preparation week (Aug. 31-Sept. 4) and the district will continue to explore how to make up for the lost time in the classroom, Cottongim writes.

“These options may include making up the time during the second semester, requesting a waiver from the Commonwealth and/or providing on-line opportunities for classroom instruction,” the release says.

It also notes changes in the open house/orientation schedule:

“The Freshman Orientation and Open House scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3, will now be held on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015.  The freshman orientation will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The Open House will be held on Sept. 10 with Seniors and Juniors arriving from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and with Sophomores and Freshmen arriving from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  Freshmen who attend the orientation earlier in the day are not expected to attend the open house that evening as they will have received the information needed.  Both of these events on Sept. 10 will be dependent upon access to the spaces within the school.”